Chery and BYD Accelerate Expansion into Canada, Paving the Way for North American Entry

Against the backdrop of Canada’s recent adjustment to its tariff policy on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Chery and BYD are actively preparing to enter the Canadian market. Canada has recently granted China an annual quota of 49,000 EVs, subject to a reduced tariff rate of only 6.1% within the quota—a rate that is expected to increase over the next five years. Chery has already posted around 10 job openings on Liepin targeting the North American market, spanning engineering, regulatory certification, and intelligent driving. The company has adopted a dual-location setup for its product and marketing teams—based in Wuhu and Toronto—with new hires scheduled to start between March and April this year. Meanwhile, BYD has already registered in Transport Canada’s compliance system, indicating it has completed the basic market access procedures. Although Canada’s automotive market is relatively small and highly competitive, its transparent regulatory environment and lower political sensitivity are seen as a strategic “stepping stone” into the broader North American market. Industry insiders believe these moves aim to seize a critical export window, accumulate localized operational experience, and pave the way for potential future expansion into the U.S. market.